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MWL1 Cedar Rapids Kernels

Wild ending at Alliant spells doom for Kernels

May 12, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Cedar Rapids Kernels News Release


Clinton first baseman Freddie Thon laced a Chris Howell (1-3) offering into the gap in right center to score the winning run from third base in the bottom of the ninth inning at Alliant Energy Field to propel the LumberKings to an 8-7 victory over the Kernels on Friday night.

A pair of wild pitches helped move Jose Vallejo, the winning run, into scoring position. The Kernels put John Mayberry, Jr. on intentionally to set up a possible inning-ending double play, but Thon, the nephew of former big leaguer Dickie Thon, hit Howell's pitch hard and far for his fourth hit of the night to give the LumberKings their 11th win of the year against 23 losses. The Kernels record fell to 17-18.

Clinton grabbed an early 4-0 lead with two runs each in the second and third innings off starter Robert Mosebach. The Kernels starter, last week's Midwest League Pitcher of the Week, was merely pedestrian against the LumberKings, allowing 11 hits and 6 earned runs over six innings of work.

Juan Carlos Garcia (1-2) earned the win for the LumberKings in relief with two innings of work.

The Kernels came from behind to score six runs off Clinton starter Zach Phillips in the fifth inning. Marco Albano started the inning with a single to right before being balked to second. Stantrel Smith singled and Brad Coon walked to load the bases, setting the table for Hainley Statia to rope a single to center that plated a pair of runs. Jordan Renz then smashed a double to center to clear the bases. Flint Wipke kept the inning alive by singling to center, prompting a pitching change. Wipke then stole second base off new pitcher Jerry Oakes before moving to third on a fly out by Travis Schlichting. Wipke would score on a fielder's choice which saw Mark Trumbo reach first safely.

Clinton scored once in the bottom half of the fifth to cut the newfound lead to 6-5 before the Kernels plated a run in the sixth on a wild pitch by Oakes.

The LumberKings scored the tying run in the seventh off Brok Butcher when Thon scored on a single by Johnny Whittleman. Butcher surrendered two hits and struck out one in his inning of work between Mosebach and Howell.

The two teams continue their four-game series Saturday evening with a 6 p.m. tilt at Alliant Energy Field. Right-hander Tommy Mendoza is scheduled to pitch for the Kernels.

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Midwest League Stories from May 12, 2006


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